Rantings: Human Behavior Regionally. My Westward Theory.

in the early morning on Wednesday, the 20th of October 2004 by Tina

Ok this is just a ranting, only a ranting, do not be alarmed, etc, etc… (In tune of the Emergency Broadcast System). To those who are easily offended, etc, etc”¦ please don’t read on.

Something I have always been aware of, and annoyed by is human behavior. It makes many of us turn into turtles and crawl into our shells to avoid the behavior of many people.

A History: I grew up in a rural area, very farmer filled (and farming seemed to be the goal of most students, not a bad thing, jut a matter of fact). Also this area was very, very religious, really there was no other though process, I am surprised science was even permitted in school. Although the type of science seemed to be approved by the local churches since it did not do anything in anyway to condemn or question religion. No, this was not a private school, this was public. You were ostracized if you did not have a bible with you and or full knowledge of its contents. Naturally, I was ostracized.

This is a human behavior of a typical small rural town, of course there are degrees of this, some even more religious some less”¦ but from what I have become aware of religion does seem to hold high rank in small rural towns. Not that religion is a bad thing, if it does well for a person, and the person respects what they are “preaching” then that is fine. On the flip side are those who claim to be religious and even worse yet those who claim to be simply because they frequent a local church. That folk is the type that really annoys the heck out of me, (the latter of the two types I have mentioned). I have come across this type of people over and over again in my life. I have also met the genuine folk who believe in being a good person who also happen to be religious, those are wonderful people (they are obviously not whom I am speaking of). My rant is on those who “know all” yet know nothing (hummm Michael Moore just came to mind)! They are those who cram religion and the bible down other people’s throats, yet don’t practice what they “preach”. That is the type of small rural place I knew well, those are the type of people that irk me to no end. To give you an idea of the blind religion I had as a child, I have a permanent scar on my lower lip from another child throwing me down the church steps; I was 4 years old, around the same age my teddy bear was stolen. Many years later, in high school, I am told to bring “my” bible to class (for world history). I was told I would receive a zero if I did not. I said what if I do not have one, the look of horror is unforgettable (you would think I personally had just re-crucified Christ). Alas I had to drop that class; let me say again this was PUBLIC School.

Onward in History: I had moved from this small rural area to Baltimore County, which overall I would have to say was heaven in contrast, and I have a theory on the westward mentality (as Baltimore is west of where I grew up). Of course when you are still younger you cannot be sure if it is your own state of mind or reality, in regards to your surroundings. Once I turned 20, I moved to Delaware. Here is where contrast and comparison really played a part in my world, and brought out the inner turtle in me. I came across people who took “Hi, How are you today?” as getting to personal. I had lived in an area previously where the word “Hun” was part of normal speech, I was told to never use that word; it offends. I noticed driving around, if you need directions you can not lean out your window and yell to the car next to you for directions (Baltimore this is a normal and acceptable practice, completed with a friendly manner). Eye contact is something that you swear the person might pull out a gun; people in Delaware (as a whole) are terribly paranoid. I had thought it was maybe just me, perhaps had to due with getting older, growing up or perhaps the “times”. I went back to Baltimore on occasion, and nope I discovered the alienated state of Delaware was on its own in this paranoid behavior. Back in Baltimore, people still leaned out their windows for directions, eye contact was common, “Hun” was acceptable, and perfect strangers chatting with you was normal. Heck I was wandering around some stores and a staff person from a previous store was on break and wandering around another shop, she said hello, simply because she saw me before. A guy was wandering around, and just struck up a conversation because we were wandering in the same direction. This is Baltimore, day & night more friendly then Delaware.

I mentioned Delaware being alienated; well really it is, go east to New Jersey or north to Pennsylvania. In either of these states you will still be able to lean out your window for directions. Although my “westward theory” does come into play here, there is a distinct behavior difference between PA, NJ and Baltimore. Baltimore is much friendlier and does incorporate eye contact. Seems the eye contact vanishes as you head east? Keep heading west, west of Baltimore, in West Virginia, keep heading out”¦ this trend continues with people being even more open, welcoming, and friendly.

My husband I went on vacation to Colorado last year, we returned this past spring to verify if we were just insane. This also proved this theory I have, because I have never in my entire life met people who collectively were so considerate, genuinely & sincerely friendly ever! (Ah yes for doubting Thomas’s, yes there are good folk in DE, we do have friends here after all, and etc, as well there I am sure are bad in CO, but all places on earth need checks & balances of good & bad to give you a frame of reference and appreciation of what is good! But the bottom line is the majority of the folks.). Add the kindness of the people, the beauty of the state, the drinkable water, the breathable air, and the fabulous climate”¦ and yes I do think we have found heaven on earth!

This ends this ranting, you may go about your business as normal.